Caltex vehicles still seized by Riau residents as protests continue

At least three vehicles owned by PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia (CPI) and its contractors are still taken hostages by the protesting residents in the Simpang Kopar village in Tanah Putih district, Riau, Riau Post reported.

The daily reported that the management of the oil giant with the help of the local police to persuade the protesters to surrender the vehicles but the negotiations did not work as expected, as the residents did believe in the concession offered by Caltex.

The protests started two weeks ago after applications from some 75 jobless youths from the villagers to work in the company were turned down. The protests ended for almost one day early this week after the management agreed to offer them jobs but the residents later resumed their action because the company's management broke its promise.

The company said earlier that the people's protests have caused a cut in the oil giant's crude oil production by between 15,000 and 30,000 barrels per day, In normal condition, the company produces about 700,000 barrels per day.

The residents said that their demand to work in the oil giant company was something that must be considered by Caltex because the company's operations did not really give contribution to the local company.

"The company does not mind paying its expatriate for between US$10,000 and $15,000 per month but when the locals ask to work even only as Satpam (security), the company says that it could not give them jobs because its capacity is limited," he said. (*)